NDSU Soccer Adds Nine Student-Athletes on Signing Day

North Dakota State head soccer coach Mark Cook announced the addition of nine student-athletes to the Bison program on National Signing Day, Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Alexandra Boucher, a defender from Stillwater, Minn.; Mikayla Jacobson, a forward from Lakeville, Minn.; Genna Joyce, a defender from Robbinsdale, Minn.; Tiana Khamvongsa, a forward from Burnsville, Minn.; Bailey Lervick, a midfielder/defender from Woodbury, Minn.; Lauren Miller, a center midfielder from St. Louis Park, Minn.; Autumn Muckenhirn, a forward/midfielder from Naperville, Ill.; Olivia Norman, a forward from Forest Lake, Minn.; and Amy Yang, a center midfielder from St. Paul, Minn., will all play soccer and continue their education at NDSU.

"I would like to congratulate each of these players for achieving their goal of signing to play soccer at a Division I program," said Cook. "Their years of hard work and dedication have paid off, and I am sure they are as excited as we are to begin the next phase of their soccer journey as members of the NDSU soccer family."

"One of the biggest needs we identified this past season was to add more athleticism and depth to our program. With the addition of these nine players, we have accomplished that goal. For the first time in NDSU soccer history, we have signed two players with U.S. Youth Soccer National Team experience and our first top-150 recruit."

"Each of these players has had very successful high school and club soccer careers. They each bring a wealth of experience competing at the state, regional and national levels of soccer. It is my belief these nine players will help NDSU soccer continue its success, both in the classroom and on the field."

Boucher was a defender and captain for Stillwater Area High School in Minnesota, helping her team to a third-place finish at the Minnesota Class AA state tournament in 2010. In 2012, Boucher was an all-conference honoree and the recipient of the Impact Award. She played club soccer for the St. Croix Soccer Club and the St. Croix Scorpions, winning the USA Cup in 2010 and the Minnesota state championship in 2012. Boucher plans to major in nursing at NDSU.

Coach Cook's Take: "Alex is a very hard-nosed, tough defender with a great work rate. For a defender, she is very composed on the ball and will bring great versatility to our program."

Jacobson helped lead Lakeville South High School to a section championship and a state tournament berth in 2010. As a senior, she was named team captain, Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. Jacobson also played for the Minnesota Thunder Academy '95 in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and finished as a 'B' Flight national runner-up. Outside of soccer, Jacobson also participates in basketball, track, Captains Council, FCA and several other organizations.

Coach Cook's Take: "Mikayla is extremely hard-working, and her desire to win games consistently puts opposing defenses under pressure due to her tenacious work ethic."

Joyce hails from Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, where she was a four-year varsity player and an all-conference selection in 2012 after receiving honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore and junior. Joyce enjoyed a decorated club career with the Minnesota Thunder Academy '95 that included a USA Cup championship in 2008, a Minnesota State Cup championship in 2010, and an MYSA U15 Premier championship in 2010. She is also an all-state rugby player.

Coach Cook's Take: "Genna provides athleticism and an attacking threat from the outside back position. Her speed and stamina allow her to cover great distances during a game, both as a defender and as an attacking presence."

Khamvongsa was part of a section champion and state runner-up team at Burnsville Senior High School in 2011, earning all-tournament team recognition. Khamvongsa shared the same extremely successful team run as Joyce on the Minnesota Thunder Academy '95, winning a USA Cup championship in 2008, a Minnesota State Cup championship in 2010, and an MYSA U15 Premier championship in 2010, among others. She also plays badminton and plans to major in engineering.

Coach Cook's Take: "Tiana is a very creative, skillful player who brings great passion to the game. Her creativity and vision will add a new attacking dimension to the team."

Lervick was an all-metro, all-conference and all-state soccer player as a senior captain for Woodbury Senior High School. She spent time with the Minnesota Thunder Academy '95 ECNL squad, as well as participating in track and serving as a kicker for the Woodbury football team.

Coach Cook's Take: "Bailey is a hard-working, ball-winning midfielder. Her ability to read the game allows her to disrupt the opposition's rhythm and allows her team to regain possession quickly."

Miller was a six-year starter for St. Louis Park Senior High School, amassing 75 career goals and 49 assists for 124 total points. She was a 2012 Star Tribune all-metro first-team selection, as well as the AA North Suburban Conference Player of the Year. Miller received all-conference or all-conference honorable mention each season from 2007-12. Along with playing for the Minnesota Thunder Academy '96 ECNL, she was a member of the under-14 and under-15 United States girls' national teams and a participant in the Olympic Development Program. TopDrawerSoccer.com has had Miller on its Top 150 list for the last four years.

Coach Cook's Take: "Lauren's ability to single-handedly break opposition down with both the pass and dribble makes her an extremely dangerous player. She provides a goal threat, not only close to goal, but her ball striking allows her to be a threat from long range."

Muckenhirn is a three-time all-conference honoree as a forward/midfielder for Naperville Central High School. She has played club soccer for the FC Chicago Sockers ECNL team since 2011 after spending four years with the NSA Premier Fury from 2007-10 where she won two Illinois state championships and placed third in the nation at the National Youth Championships. Muckenhirn also plays basketball and intends to major in speech pathology at NDSU.

Coach Cook's Take: "Autumn is an outstanding soccer player who brings a wealth of playing experience competing at the highest level of club soccer. She will bring lots of hard work, speed, athleticism and personality to our program."

Norman was an all-conference selection, team Most Valuable Player and captain for Forest Lake Area High School. She was named the team's offensive MVP in each of her final three seasons. Her club soccer experience includes the Minnesota Thunder Academy '95 ECNL team and the 1995 Olympic Development Program state team since 2006.

Coach Cook's Take: "Olivia brings great pace and mobility as an attacking player. She is continually looking to stretch the opposing back line and is always a goal threat."

Yang started her high school career at Brockton (Mass.) High School and finished it at Harding Senior High School in St. Paul, Minn., where she was named the St. Paul Conference Player of the Year in 2012. Yang was also a Class A all-state honorable mention selection in 2012 and a member of the All-Pioneer Press Team. She played club soccer for the Scorpions Soccer Club in Massachusetts and the Minnesota Club Academy '96 ECNL team. Yang was part of the 2009 under-14 U.S. national team camp.

Coach Cook's Take: "Amy is one of the most technically sound and complete players I have seen at this level. Her passing and vision allow the team to control possession of a game, and her energetic work rate helps to quickly win the ball back from the opposition."

NDSU finished the 2012 season with a record of 8-10 and tied for third place in The Summit League to earn its fourth straight bid to the conference tournament. The Bison graduated four seniors - Shannon Brooks, Holly Christian, Brooklyn Dyce and Jordyn Wallenborn.